Epiphone Les Paul - No Serial Number

[Ken Kell]

I just purchased an Epiphone Les Paul Standard from an online market place for a low price. When I looked over the guitar before purchasing several things struck me as odd compared to other Epiphones I have seen. Firstly that there was no serial number. The guitar had been upgraded with Grover tuners that were worth more than the asking price of the guitar so at that price I decided to consider it further even without a S/N. The guitar has a new roller bridge and tailpiece also. Upon playing the guitar I fell in love. Great feel, Awesome sound. Now I want to know more about it. Could it be a copy/ fake? Things that stood out for me was it has black pickup covers and rings. No rythem/treble inscription on a black washer. No inscription on black truss rod cover. Also the switch tip was chrome. The guy I bought it from put the roller bridge on but no known prior history. Can anybody help me determine if this guitar is real or fake and when/where it was built?

 

[paruwi]

Hi Ken,

welcome here @ MLP


The guitar looks legit to my eyes,
it seems to be from around 1990-92 when Samick, Korea still used stickers for the serial# - and the sticker felt off
all other things could easy be changed in all the years

 

[Ken Kell]

Thanks for the info! I have played a Gibson LP for 27 years and this Epiphone is a really great guitar. I feel bad for not giving Epi's the credit they deserve.

 

[JohnnyN]

Welcome to the MLP forum and happy NGD

 

[Breezin]

Thanks for the info! I have played a Gibson LP for 27 years and this Epiphone is a really great guitar. I feel bad for not giving Epi's the credit they deserve.

This is the Gibson police . Sir , I have to confiscate your cork.

 

[Ken Kell]

Now I am hoping to learn more about the pickups in this guitar. What are the stock pups from 90 - 92? Did they ever come in black? I am awaiting a string change to take it out and look at the bottom. Any idea what these pickups could be?

 

[6kenyonm]

I am not an expert on epiphones, but I thought they are meant to be identical to Gibson apart from headstock design. If so you have bought a fake because on a real Gibson the tailpiece is in front of the closest control knob.
If it feels and sounds good and its been upgraded like you say then I wouldn't complain for an epi.

 

[paruwi]

I am not an expert on epiphones, but I thought they are meant to be identical to Gibson apart from headstock design. If so you have bought a fake because on a real Gibson the tailpiece is in front of the closest control knob.
If it feels and sounds good and its been upgraded like you say then I wouldn't complain for an epi.

You should do your homework before you state such wrong information here

 

[6kenyonm]

You should do your homework before you state such wrong information here

I've just done some home work. And my information is in fact correct.

The tailpiece should be closer to the neck than the neck volume knob.

 

[paruwi]

I've just done some home work. And my information is in fact correct.

The tailpiece should be closer to the neck than the neck volume knob.

No You are wrong!

Now when you've done your homework studying
the KOREAN Epi models you'll know that
your statement above still is wrong

Consider this a fact!!!

During the time many different korean factories had produced Epiphones
the 'details' had been just as different.
This had stopped when Epi opened their first factory in China, and some years later the second.
Today there is only one korean OEM left, Unsung

It might have some reasons why only this one factory survived producing for Epi.

 

[6kenyonm]

I apologise if i am wrong. But i have never seen a real gibson or epiphone les paul with this misplaced tailpiece. I have seen a lot of fake ones like this. But if it is real it will be worth a fortune as it is so rare.

 

[paruwi]

I apologise if i am wrong. But i have never seen a real gibson or epiphone les paul with this misplaced tailpiece. I have seen a lot of fake ones like this. But if it is real it will be worth a fortune as it is so rare.

The guitar in post #1 IS real, and not a fake, that is a fact.

Tip:
You always can recognise older korean Epis by the misalignment of
tuners and knobs

Not every korean Epi that doesn't fit todays accuracy is a Fake

as said, older korean Epis are just different in so many aspects

and for the sarcasm in your post,

This would be a good start in 'learning' about fake Epis....

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/31153-fake-epiphone-thread-ii.html

edit:

legit '94 korean Epi^^

legit '89 korean Epis^^

 

[PermissionToLand]

The tuners don't look that misaligned.

Did Cort make Epis back then? That looks like the style of stickers Cort used. I've only seen Samicks with model name stickers at the heel that I can recall (and typically in gold)..